Two leaders of the MS-13 gang were sentenced in federal court in Charlotte, North Carolina, for their roles in violent criminal activity connected to the organization. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced the sentences alongside officials from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Charlotte Division, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
Fredy Mauricio Buruca, also known as “Piranha,” “Machete,” and “Insoportable,” 27, of El Salvador, received a 30-year prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy and kidnapping a minor. Santos Guillermo Ramirez Mancia, known as “Azazel,” “Timido,” and “Johnny,” 34, also from El Salvador, was sentenced to 20 years in prison with three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
“MS-13 is one of the most dangerous and ruthless gangs in the country,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “We are working to eliminate this gang from existence, and I am proud to say this prosecution has completely dismantled an entire MS-13 clique known as the Hollywood Locos Salvatrucha Clique that operated up and down the eastern seaboard.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis stated: “MS-13 gang members feed on brutality, violence, and intimidation. No matter how committed they are to creating chaos in our communities, the FBI and our law enforcement partners remain laser focused to stop the threat. Today’s sentences demonstrate our dedication to eradicate MS-13 from the top down.”
Court documents show that Buruca led a sub-unit called Hollywood Locos Salvatrucha Clique (HLS clique), which operated across North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., and other locations between December 2018 and November 2022. The group engaged in racketeering activities including extortion, robbery, kidnapping, acts of violence against rivals or witnesses, and other crimes intended to maintain control over territory and enforce discipline within the gang.
As leader or “First Word” of HLS clique in Charlotte, Buruca sanctioned various violent acts such as extortion at a nightclub in Woodbridge, Virginia—where he shot at an individual who refused to pay protection money—and armed robberies involving multiple victims on February 19, 2022. One victim kidnapped during these incidents was a minor; Buruca demanded ransom for her release.
Mancia also took part in violent actions on behalf of MS-13. In December 2018 he shot an individual identified as J.G.J., described as a member of rival gang Mara 18. After Buruca’s arrest for another shooting incident in late 2021 Mancia became “First Word” for HLS clique.
On November 6, 2022 Mancia was involved with co-defendants Christian Alejandro Garcia Santa Cruz (“Crimen”) and Aderly Jose Veliz-Ronquillo (“Chanchin”) during an altercation at a nightclub parking lot in Charlotte that ended with W.G.M.’s fatal shooting by Santa Cruz and Veliz-Ronquillo after Mancia identified himself as MS-13.
Santa-Cruz and Veliz-Ronquillo were each sentenced on April 16, 2025 to 35 years imprisonment for using firearms resulting in W.G.M.’s death.
Other defendants previously sentenced include Luis Fernando Guardardo Moreno (“Fantasma”/“Scrappy”), who received a 20-year sentence plus supervised release for RICO conspiracy; Juan Francisco Sanchez Estrada (“Nene”/“Turbo”), who was given a 14-year sentence following consolidated federal cases across districts.
All defendants will remain in federal custody until transferred to designated facilities under supervision by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended law enforcement agencies including FBI Charlotte Division; HSI; Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department; Davidson County Sheriff’s Office; Kannapolis Police Department; Monroe Police Department; Prince William County (Virginia) Sheriff’s Office; Annapolis (Maryland) Police Department for their roles in investigating this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erik Lindahl and David Kelly are prosecuting.
